The Year of the Rat is approaching – and with it will come more than 20 cultural events across the UK as part of a major program to celebrate Chinese New Year. 

In London, hundreds of thousands of people are set to join the Chinese New Year celebrations in Trafalgar Square and across Chinatown in the West End, on Sunday 26 January, with lion dances, a spectacular parade and other free performances. It will feature Guizhou Song and Dance Troupe, an influential performing group specializing in ethnic art forms.

Stage performances will also take place in Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast and Preston, with a spectacular program of singing and dancing, as well as traditional ethnic Miao costumes and musical instruments. 

Museums in London will hold family festival day to celebrate the Year of the Rat. 

Families can watch traditional lion dances, learn to play Mahjong or create their own origami rats at the National Maritime Museum on 25 January, or join Chinese-themed storytelling, making, and traditional paper cuttings for a family festival day at London's National Gallery on 26 January. 

Special Chinese New Year events will also be held at Museum of London near London's original Chinatown in Limehouse. 

Various concerts and choirs featuring traditional Chinese music will be held at Cambridge University, Oxford University, University of London and Queen Mary University of London. 

The events in the UK are part of a global celebration – more than 1,500 events have been held in 396 cities in 133 countries since it was launched in 2010.

This year's Chinese New Year falls on 25 January.